Shoe

ABSTRACT

A shoe includes a sole and an upper which together enable a user to put on the shoe quickly and easily. The upper includes a heel support member that is fixedly attached to and extending upwardly from a rear portion of the sole, and a toe box fixedly attached to and extending upwardly from a front portion to form a toe receiving recess. A middle flap is fixedly attached to and extending upwardly from a first side edge of the sole and extending to a terminal edge, the middle flap pivoting between an open position wherein the shoe is adapted to receive the user&#39;s foot, and a closed position wherein the middle flap is closed over the user&#39;s foot. The shoe further includes a fastener for fastening the terminal edge of the middle flap to a second side edge of the sole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to shoes, and more particularly to ashoe that is openable such that it may rapidly receive and be fastenedaround a foot, and further enables easy removal of the foot.

Description of Related Art

The prior art teaches many examples of shoes that can be opened invarious ways to facilitate putting on the shoe.

Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,978, teaches an athletic shoe that includes aresilient sole portion having a rear portion that extends upwardly fromthe sole portion for supporting the ankle of the person. The shoeincludes an upper that is pivotally attached to the sole, the upperincluding an ankle enclosing section and a toe enclosing section, bothof which may be attached/detached from the sole, to enable the user toput on the shoe. While this makes placement of the foot into the shoevery easy, the front, toe portion of the shoe must be attached stronglyenough to withstand considerable forces, hence the use of a zipperrather than hooks and loops fasteners. This also results in the zippertaking considerable strain, which may result in failure of thisfastener.

Ito, U.S. Pat. No. 7,127,837, teaches a shoe of similar design, whichopens in its entirety, including the toe portion of the shoe. Thisdesign is useful for the elderly and disabled because it is so easy toput on and remove. The upper can be opened for insertion of the foot,and a zipper zips horizontally along the edge of the upper for closingthe upper. The upper also includes a hooks and loops fastener, andfurther includes an additional strip of hooks and loops fastener foradded strength.

There are several additional patents that are similar to Ito, whereinthe entire upper including the toe pivots upwardly, and a zipper is usedto close the upper:

Baker, U.S. Pat. No. 10,178,893, teaches a shoe that includes a sole anda top member pivotally mounted on the sole. The top member and sole totogether define a space for receiving a foot, and the top member furthercomprises an opening. A zipper fastener is provided in the top memberand extends from the opening and continues over the top member such thata portion of the top member is movable between a first position in whichthe space is substantially closed and a second position in which aportion of the top member is folded back from the sole to provide accessto the space.

Innocente, U.S. Pat. No. 10,499,710 (assigned to Nike), teaches a shoehaving a toe portion, a heel portion and first and second sides, theshoe including a sole, an upper and a zipper closing mechanism extendingfrom a top portion of the upper down along the first side of the shoeand then horizontally between the sole and the upper around the toeportion, around the second side and around the heel portion. See alsoPrice, U.S. 20160338447, Paintin, U.S. Pat. No. 8,245,418, and Ashton,U.S. Pat. No. 7,134,225.

There are many benefits from a shoe which may rapidly receive and fastenaround a foot. For example, those with injured or sore feet, the veryyoung or elderly, those with a disability which causes difficulty withlaces, or those who need an adjustable shape would all benefit from sucha design. Further, triathlon competitors who may need to quickly switchbetween footwear, divers, travelers, those in an emergency situation,etc., would also benefit.

The prior art teaches shoes wherein the entire upper, including an ankleenclosing section and a toe enclosing section, pivot upwardly forallowing insertion of the user's foot. However, the prior art does notteach a shoe where the middle, ankle enclosing section pivots upwardly,and opens the shoe all the way to the sole, for easy insertion, whilethe toe and ankle portions remain closed and fixed, for added strengthduring intense athletic performances. The present invention fulfillsthese needs and provides further advantages as described in thefollowing summary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and usewhich give rise to the objectives described below.

The present invention provides a shoe that includes a sole and an upperwhich together enable a user to put on the shoe quickly and easily. Thesole includes a front end and a rear end connected by a first side edgeand a second side edge. The upper includes a heel support member fixedlyattached to and extending upwardly from the rear portion of the sole; atoe box fixedly attached to and extending upwardly from the frontportion to form a toe receiving recess; and a middle flap fixedlyattached to and extending upwardly from the first side edge of the soleand extending to a terminal edge, the middle flap pivoting between anopen position wherein the shoe is adapted to receive the user's foot,and a closed position wherein the middle flap is closed over the user'sfoot such that the terminal edge is positioned adjacent the second sideedge of the sole. The shoe further includes a fastener for fastening theterminal edge of the middle flap to the second side edge of the sole.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a shoe havingadvantages not taught by the prior art.

Another objective is to provide a shoe which may rapidly receive and befastened around a foot.

Another objective is to provide a shoe which, when fastened, providesstrong and reliable support comparable to standard shoe designs.

Another objective is that the inner sole can be quickly and easilyaccessed for removal, cleaning, drying, or swapping.

A further objective is to provide a shoe fastener which may beintegrated into a variety of existing types of shoes.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following more detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In suchdrawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe according to one embodiment ofthe present invention and shown in an open position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shoe illustrating a user steppinghis or her foot into the shoe;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shoe, illustrating the shoe beingclosed around the user's foot;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment the shoe showing analternative fastener;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the alternative fastener by itself; and

FIG. 6 is another alternative fastener of the shoe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above-described drawing figures illustrate the invention, a shoethat includes an upper than can be opened to receive and be fastenedaround a wearer's foot without traditional fasteners.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe 10 according to one embodiment ofthe present invention, illustrating the shoe 10 in an open position.FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shoe 10 of FIG. 1, illustrating auser stepping his or her foot 12 into the shoe 10. As shown in FIGS.1-2, the shoe 10 comprises a sole 20 having a main body 49, a front end22 and a rear end 24 connected by a first side edge 26 and a second sideedge 28. The general construction of the sole 20 is similar to prior artshoes, except as noted below, and may include any form of prior artconstruction, with different layers and other features known in the art.

As discussed below, the sole 20 includes a forward portion 30 thatincludes the front end 22 of the sole 20, and at least a portion of thefirst and second side edges 26 and 28; and the sole 20 further includesa rear portion 32 that includes the rear end 24 and at least a portionof the first and second side edges 26 and 28 of the sole 20. Thesignificance of these portions 30 and 32 is discussed in greater detailbelow.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2, an upper 34 of the shoe 10 includes threedifferent components: a heel support member 36, a toe box 42, and amiddle flap 46. As discussed in greater detail below, the heel supportmember 36 and the toe box 42 are fixedly attached to the sole 20 toprovide strength and support to the user, while the middle flap 46 ishingably attached on one side, and detachably attached on the other toenable a user to quickly and easily don or remove the shoe 10.

The heel support member 36 is fixedly attached to and extends upwardlyfrom the rear portion 32 of the sole 20, and is adapted to support thewearer's heel. In this embodiment, the heel support member 36 comprisesa heel counter 38 and a heel collar 40, the heel counter 38 furtherincluding an inner forward edge 43. However, in other embodiments, theheel support member 36 may be formed according to any shoe style knownin the art. The general construction of the heel support member 36 issimilar to prior art shoes, and may include suitable support structures,padding, etc., which are known in the art.

The heel support member 36 extends into the middle flap 46 along thefirst side edge 26 of the sole 20, the middle flap 46 being fixedlyattached to and extending upwardly from the outer edge 26. The middleflap 46 includes a terminal edge 48 having a fastener 50 for removablyattaching to the second side edge 28, as described in greater detailbelow. The middle flap may further include a forward edge 33 and a rearedge 45.

Similarly, the toe box 42 is fixedly attached to and extending upwardlyfrom the forward portion 30 of the sole 20, to form a toe receivingrecess 44 adapted to receive the wearer's toes. In one embodiment, thetoe box 42 may extend to at least partially enclose the user's toes, andalternatively may fully encompass the toes. It should be understood thatthe toe box 42 may be provided in a variety of structures and materials,so long as it remains fixedly attached to the sole 20 to form the toereceiving recess 44, thereby providing structural stability to the shoe20 during use.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the middle flap 46 is pivotally attached to thesole 20 such that it can be completed lifted away from the sole 20, tofully expose the inside of the shoe 10 so that the user may easily stepinto it for use, as shown in FIG. 2. The middle flap 46 includes aproximal edge 47 which is fixedly attached to the sole 20, and aterminal edge 48 which is not fixedly attached to the sole 20, but whichincludes a fastener 50 that enables the second edge 48 to be removablyattached to the sole 20. In this embodiment, the fastener 50 includes afirst fastener 50 a attached to the terminal edge 48 of the middle flap46, and a second fastener 50 b attached to the second side edge 28 ofthe sole 20. In this embodiment, the first and second fasteners 50 a and50 b are hooks and loops fasteners, but in alternative embodiments,other forms of fasteners known in the art may be used. One example ofalternative fasteners is shown in FIGS. 4-6 and discussed below. Otherexamples of fasteners may be press-studs, snaps, locks, clips, zipper,magnets, etc. The fastener 50 may include additional points of fastening(not shown) to provide size adjustment for different foot heights andwidths.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shoe 10 in a closed position aroundthe wearer's foot. As discussed above, the middle flap 46 pivots betweenthe open position of FIGS. 1-2, wherein the shoe 10 is adapted toreceive the wearer's foot, and the closed position of FIG. 3, whereinthe middle flap 46 is closed around the wearer's foot. In the closedposition, the terminal edge 48 of the middle flap 46 is positionedadjacent the second side edge 28 of the sole 20, wherein the terminaledge 48 is secured by the fastener 50 to the second side edge 28 of thesole 20. In this embodiment, the forward edge 33 of the middle flap 46is adjacent the toe box 42, and the rear edge 45 is adjacent the innerforward edge 43 of the heel support member 36.

The shoe 10 may further include an additional fastener strap 52 whichincludes a first strap fastener 53, with a mating second strap fastener54 being mounted on the heel support member 36. In this embodiment, theadditional fastener strap 52 extends from the middle flap 46 toward theheel support member 36. As discussed above, the fasteners used may be ahook and loop fastener, or other suitable form of fastener. Theadditional fastener strap 52 functions to provide additional strength toensure that the shoe 10 remains closed while in use.

As shown in FIG. 3, the middle flap 46 may further include a paddedtongue 60 for both comfort and appearance, which may be covered by laces62, which may be merely decorative, or alternatively also functional ifdesired. In some embodiments, the tongue 60 may be in an alternativeposition, as shown in FIG. 4 and discussed below. While exemplaryconfigurations are illustrated, those skilled in the art may devise manyalternative constructions, and these alterative constructions should beconsidered within the scope of the present invention.

In practice, the wearer first inserts his or her toes into the toe box42, and then steps down into the shoe 10 guided by the heel supportmember 36. This is performed while the middle flap 46 is in the openposition, as shown in FIG. 2. The open position allows the foot to stepinto the shoe 10 easily, without requiring any hands or support. Themiddle flap 46 may then be closed over the user's foot, as shown in FIG.3, to secure the foot within the shoe 10. The fastener 50 is used tosecure the middle flap 46 to the sole 20, and the additional fastenerstrap 52 may additional be fastened to further secure the middle flap 46in this closed position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the shoe 10illustrating another embodiment of a fastener 50 having a first fastener50 c and a second fastener 50 d, and further illustrating an alternativepositioning of the tongue 60. As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment themiddle flap 46 of the shoe 10 includes a terminal edge 48 which is notfixedly attached to the sole 20 and includes the first fastener 50 cthat enables the second edge 48 to be removably attached to the sole 20via the second fastener 50 d, which is attached to the second side edge28 of the sole 20.

As shown in FIG. 4, this embodiment further illustrates another optionalfeature of the shoe 10 in which the tongue 60 may be fixedly attached toand extend from the toe box 42. In this embodiment, the tongue 60 is anelongate padded sheet which provides superior cushioning against the topof the user's foot. In this embodiment, the middle flap 46 closes overthe tongue 60 when fastened by the fastener 50.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the first and second fasteners 50 c and50 d of FIG. 4. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the fasteners 50 c and 50 deach comprise a plurality of teeth 66 mounted on a base 64. The teeth 66are raised from the base 64, they may be generally triangular in shape,having converging edges. In this embodiment, the teeth are in the formof a pyramid, so that the teeth 66 may interlock, as described ingreater detail below. Importantly, the teeth 66 include two convergingedges which enable the interlocking. In alternative embodiment, othershapes may be used, e.g., diamond, round, any form of geometric orcustom shape desired, which provides the same form of interlockingfunction.

The base 64 may be in the form of a rigid sheet (e.g., metal, plastic,etc.) and may include an attachment means 68 for securing the base toanother surface (such as the shoe, as shown in FIG. 4). In thisembodiment, the attachment means 68 is in the form of a hole forreceiving laces, nails, or other type of fastener. The attachment means68 may further include an adhesive, and/or any other mechanism forfastening known in the art (e.g., welding, mechanical fasteners,non-mechanical fasteners, etc.).

In use, the triangular teeth 66 interlock with each other such that theyprovide a very strong engagement, but wherein a user may simply pinchthe fasteners 50 c and 50 d towards each other to release theinterlocking engagement and release. In alternative embodiments, thefasteners 50 c and 50 d may be used to interlock different objects(e.g., mounting frames on a wall, interlocking any two items known inthe art, or other type of fastening).

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the fastener 50,having a first fastener 50 e and a second fastener 50 f. As shown inFIG. 6, in this embodiment, a plurality of triangular teeth 76 aremounted on a sheet 70 and includes an attachment means 74 for receivinglaces, nails, or other type of fastener. In some embodiments, the sheet70 is larger relative to the teeth 76 than in the embodiment of FIGS.4-5, such that sufficient space is allowed to attach further fasteningmechanism(s) to the sheet 70. In this embodiment, hook and loop stripsare applied to the sheet 70, which further secures the fasteners 50 eand 50 f in a closed position, thereby helping to prevent accidentaldisengagement of the teeth 76 during use.

As used in this application, the words “a,” “an,” and “one” are definedto include one or more of the referenced item unless specifically statedotherwise. The terms “approximately” and “about” are defined to mean+/−10%, unless otherwise stated. Also, the terms “have,” “include,”“contain,” and similar terms are defined to mean “comprising” unlessspecifically stated otherwise. Furthermore, the terminology used in thespecification provided above is hereby defined to include similar and/orequivalent terms, and/or alternative embodiments that would beconsidered obvious to one skilled in the art given the teachings of thepresent patent application. While the invention has been described withreference to at least one particular embodiment, it is to be clearlyunderstood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments, butrather the scope of the invention is defined by claims made to theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A shoe comprising: a sole having a front end anda rear end connected by a first side edge and a second side edge,wherein the sole further includes a front portion that includes thefront end and at least a portion of the first and second side edges, andfurther includes a rear portion that includes the rear end and at leasta portion of the first and second side edges; an upper comprising: aheel support member fixedly attached to and extending upwardly from therear portion of the sole; a toe box fixedly attached to and extendingupwardly from the front portion to form a toe receiving recess; and amiddle flap fixedly attached to and extending upwardly from the firstside edge of the sole and extending to a terminal edge, the middle flappivoting between an open position wherein the shoe is adapted to receivethe user's foot, and a closed position wherein the middle flap is closedover the user's foot such that the terminal edge is positioned adjacentthe second side edge of the sole; and a fastener for fastening theterminal edge of the middle flap to the second side edge of the sole. 2.The shoe of claim 1, further comprising an additional fastener strapthat extends from the middle flap toward the heel support member.
 3. Theshoe of claim 2, further including a first strap fastener on theadditional fastener strap, and further comprising a mating second strapfastener mounted on the heel support member.
 4. The shoe of claim 1,wherein the fastener includes a first fastener attached to the terminaledge of the middle flap, and a second fastener attached to the secondside edge of the sole.
 5. The shoe of claim 4, wherein the firstfastener and the second fastener each include a base and a plurality ofteeth.